Monitoring of Alarm Reactions of Red Deer () in a Captive Population in Paneveggio Pale di San Martino Natural Park.

The study analyzes red deer responses to disturbances during the day and different exposures to tourists, to establish the more appropriate times to carry out activities inside the Paneveggio deer enclosure. The alarm reactions of red deer were observed after presenting different types of visual stimuli inside and outside the fence, in order to answer some questions: Which stimuli produce the strongest reactions from the animals? Do animals differently react to stimuli presented outside and inside the fence? On which days and times are the animals more sensitive to disturbances? Are there different reactions between the males and females? The results suggest that the red deer adversely react to the disturbance at different degrees of intensity in relation to day, sex, tourist and where the stimuli are presented. It was observed that during the days with the highest tourist presence, the animals were particularly alarmed; discomfort accumulation produced the highest number of alarm reactions on Monday.

The Apelinergic System Immuno-Detection in the Abomasum and Duodenum of Sheep Grazing on Semi-Natural Pasture.

Apelin (APLN) is an adipokine mainly produced by adipose tissue and related to an individual's nutritional status as well as digestive apparatus functions. In this work, APLN and its receptor (APLNR) were investigated, by immunohistochemistry, in the abomasum and duodenum of 15 Comisana × Appenninica adult sheep reared in a semi-natural pasture. Organ samples were collected after maximum pasture flowering (M × F group) and after maximum pasture dryness (M × D group); the experimental group (E × p group) received a feed supplementation of 600 grams/day/head of barley and corn in addition to M × D group feeding.

Influence of Different Feed Physical Forms on Mandibular Gland in Growing Pigs.

A study was performed on the mandibular gland obtained from growing pigs enrolled in a wide research project aiming to test the effects of different feed physical forms on animal health, production and welfare. We used 48 pigs fed for four weeks with different dietary treatments based on different grinding intensities and compactions of the same diet, namely coarsely ground meal (CM), finely ground pelleted (FP) and coarsely ground pelleted (CP) diets. Samples were analyzed by conventional histochemistry to identify the glycohistochemical profile and by immunohistochemistry to localize aquaporin 5, apelin and apelin receptor.

Immuno- and glyco-histochemistry as a tool to evaluate the oregano supplemented feed effects in pig gut.

Among oregano properties, its antioxidant and antibacterial effects are particularly interesting. Oregano is also able to induce a higher glycoconjugate production in gut, creating a physical barrier against microorganisms. This study evaluated the effects of adding an aqueous extract of oregano (OAE) to the diet of two homogenous groups of pigs during the finisher phase.

A Novel Method for Increasing the Numerousness of Biometrical Parameters Useful for Wildlife Management: Roe Deer Mandible as Bone Model.

Study of dimensions (biometry) and shapes (geometric morphometry) of bone structures in ungulates is of extreme importance in wildlife population management. Unlike classical biometry, which involves the use of a caliper for measurements, geometric morphometry acquires, through software, a series of reference points (landmarks) from digital photos, providing a series of linear measures. A method to convert values obtained from the GeoGebra software into biometric measures is described.

Oregano Feed Supplementation Affects Glycoconjugates Production in Swine Gut.

This study evaluated the effects of adding oregano aqueous extract (OAE) to the diet of pig slaughtered at finisher stage. Study was performed to identify glycoconjugates and evaluate the oxidative stress levels in the duodenum and colon intestinal tracts. Glycohistochemistry was performed by staining with Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian blue (AB) pH 2.

Apelin System in Mammary Gland of Sheep Reared in Semi-Natural Pastures of the Central Apennines.

Sheep are the most bred species in the Central Italy Apennine using the natural pastures as a trophic resource and grazing activity is fundamental to maintain the grassland biodiversity: this goal can be reached only ensuring an economical sustainability to the farmers. This study aimed to investigate the apelin/apelin receptor system in ovine mammary gland and to evaluate the differences induced by food supplementation, in order to shed light on this system function. A flock of 15 Comisana x Appenninica adult dry ewes were free to graze from June until pasture maximum flowering (MxF).

Filtering effect of temporal niche fluctuation and amplitude of environmental variations on the trait-related flowering patterns: lesson from sub-Mediterranean grasslands.

Timing of flowering is a critical component of community assembly, but how plant traits respond to heterogeneity of resources has been identified mostly through observations of spatial variations. Thus, we performed a trait-based phenological study in sub-Mediterranean grasslands to assess the importance of temporal variation of resources in the species assemblage processes. We found that early flowering species have traits allowing for slow resource acquisition and storage but rapid growth rate.

Evidence of Facilitation Cascade Processes as Drivers of Successional Patterns of Ecosystem Engineers at the Upper Altitudinal Limit of the Dry Puna.

Facilitation processes constitute basic elements of vegetation dynamics in harsh systems. Recent studies in tropical alpine environments demonstrated how pioneer plant species defined as "ecosystem engineers" are capable of enhancing landscape-level richness by adding new species to the community through the modification of microhabitats, and also provided hints about the alternation of different ecosystem engineers over time. Nevertheless, most of the existing works analysed different ecosystem engineers separately, without considering the interaction of different ecosystem engineers.

Increase of forage dryness induces differentiated anatomical response in the sheep rumen compartments.

The aim of this study was to investigate how the Surface Enlargement Factor (SEF) and the epithelial keratinization degree of sheep rumen change in response to phytomass production, and to forage fiber and water content during the pasture vegetative cycle. The study used eighteen sheep nourished with dry hay and cereals during the winter season and with fresh hay during the pasture vegetative cycle. We collected samples from rumen indicative regions for two consecutive years characterized by different rainfall and pasture productivity values.

Tall Grass Invasion After Grassland Abandonment Influences the Availability of Palatable Plants for Wild Herbivores: Insight into the Conservation of the Apennine Chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata.

Invasion of the tall grass Brachypodium genuense was observed in an area of the central Apennines (Italy) where the population size of Apennine chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata) was in strong decline. Since this dominant tall grass threatens biodiversity and forage quality, our hypothesis was that B. genuense abundance influenced that of palatable species for the chamois, depending on their functional traits and distribution patterns.

Evaluation of storage conditions on equine adipose tissue-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells.

The transplantation of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is a potentially promising therapy for the treatment of tendon and ligament injuries and some forms of articular pathology in horses. This study investigated the effects of storage conditions on MSCs. Equine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (eAd-MSCs) were stored at 4 °C and at room temperature (RT) for 24 and 48 h, and viability, doubling time, expression of CD44 and CD90 antigens, clonogenic/differentiation potentials, and karyotype were subsequently evaluated.